I have recently argued that corporations, not governments, will be the power houses of the future. Corporations are gaining more power as they globally expand in our now flat world. I can't help but think of the tie between responsibility of the ecosystem and corporations; as corporations take up their new positions in the world. Corporations garnish profits larger than most countries. I am a capitalist and realist. I think business is great. I do think, however, that companies and corporations need to take power and responsibility hand in hand. If a corporation can make demands and exercise “human” rights in the court, than they need to be fully responsible for demeaning the ecosystem in their area. Profits need to be dispersed towards the community and local ecosystem. Many companies do promote community friendly programs. I don't think that’s enough. Earning large tax breaks should correlate into taking on more of a responsibility. How much money is enough? How much responsibility is needed for change by the big players?
Of course these topics coincide with governments. Governments are crucial for every country. Rules and regulations are needed in SOME specific areas. I am all for hands off approaches in a seemingly stable market. But when we have problems such as the cold war or current global warming we need regulations to push us in the right direction. I say stop drilling and tax gasoline in a more strenuous manner. I personally use my car less and less because of gasoline prices. I try and use public transportation which is readily available. Alternatives are available. It is just a matter of making them a cultural norm which is very attainable. Change takes time but change is a good thing. We need to be active in our pursuit of alternative resources (air wind, etc.). And for goodness sake, would someone put those damn solar panels back on the White House??
My comment about the solar panels on the White House dates back to a symbolic move when Ronald Reagan removed the solar panels off the White House. Jimmy Carter had previously ordered solar panels placed on the White House and offered tax incentives to anyone who purchased solar panels. Reagan made a big government decision that day. That decision was to tell the American people that the environment is not a pressing issue for the United States. Reagan really had it wrong that time. I bring this issue up not to talk about political parties but to touch upon how important national leadership is when dealing with the environment. Now, more then ever, the American public needs the government to set a good example by practicing Eco friendly actions.
And that brings me to innovation and technology. Innovation is the engine that will push us towards a green friendly future. If we really want the general public to reduce waste and use green friendly products we need more and more products do be built with these capabilities. And with that, I would like to introduce the world’s first real hybrid sports car; the Fisker Karma (http://www.fiskerautomotive.com/). Although this is a higher end car built for the wealthy it’s nice to see designers can combine innovation with a popular product such as a sports car. Besides a slick design with all the top amenities of a sports car, the Fisker Karma boasts an impressive 50 miles free of harmful emissions. It’s great to see the automotive industry take one step closer to an Eco friendly solution.
I want to leave you, the reader, with one general thought and/or solution to America’s oil dependence problem and America’s increasing budget deficit. Unfortunately, the deficit is beginning to near a trillion dollars. As of now it seems that we can continue to borrow money forever, however, we cannot. It’s not as easy as printing out unlimited money and the money tree from China and other nations that we constantly tap into will eventually wither away. I am bringing this topic up because I believe we can reduce the national budget AND work on reducing our oil consumption in one fair move. I say the government needs to create a floor price on barrels of oil. This is a move highly supported of Thomas Friedman, the writer of The World is Flat and more recently Hot, Flat, and Crowded. A floor price would work like this….
The government would set an appropriate floor price of say $100. Anytime the price of a barrel of oil fell below $100 the government would keep the price of oil at $100 and use the profit from that difference to lower the deficit (i.e. oil drops to $90 a barrel, therefore the government receives $10 to use towards the decreasing the deficit).
This might seem like gasoline prices would never be too low but in reality this would stimulate a national push for alternative energy. What can and will happen in time is that alternative energy (green energy) will be so common and easily usable that prices will substantially drop. The human race is very adaptable and a floor price on oil would only benefit the American economy in terms of taxable profit and a push for green Eco friendly energy.
I think today, the most important thing we can do is be aware of the dangers that humans are creating with fossil fuels and inefficient waste practicing. It’s refreshing to know that the world leaders are finally agreeing there is a major problem. It’s also refreshing to know that solutions are available and beginning to be practiced. However, we will not be free from our wasteful fossil fuel era until the common American public is ready to practice cleaner techniques in their everyday life. I think this new green era is already in movement and it will be our generation, the young college students, who will be the largest advocates and contributors to a cleaner way of life.
Until Then....
Kyle Sawdey
The Fox Den